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grantee communications toolkit

Congratulations on receiving support from Dogwood Health Trust!

As a Dogwood grantee, we know you may want to share this news to help promote your great work. This toolkit will help you understand the best way to talk about your Dogwood support and provide some sample tools that you can download and make your own.

Sharing News About Your Great WorkĀ 

We want to ensure that YOUR story takes center stage, even when announcing a grant you received from Dogwood Health Trust. To help make that happen, we suggest the following guidelines as you prepare a news release or announcement.Ā 

  • It is your decision whether to share the dollar amount of your grant support. If you do, we recommend the following approach to ensure the focus is on the real story: YOUR work.Ā Ā 
    • We suggest that you not include grant amounts in the headline.Ā 
    • We recommend considering a headline such as ā€œABC Organization Expands Proven Program to Address [Issue Area]ā€ rather than ā€œABC Organization Receives $XXX from Dogwood Health Trust.ā€Ā 
    • It is also fine to not share the dollar amount of your grant or investment from Dogwood. You can simply use a phrase like ā€œwith support from Dogwood Health Trustā€ if you prefer.Ā Ā 
    • If you choose to publicize any grant awards secured through the Leverage Fund, we would appreciate the inclusion of the following language: “The creation of the successful application for this award was supported by the Leverage Fund at Dogwood Health Trust.”

Per your grant agreement, we would like to know in advance when you plan to publicize your support from us. Please emailĀ [email protected]. Thank you!

If you have community-relevant information that is in alignment with one of Dogwood’s four strategic priority areas or supports community equity across Western North Carolina, please send a request to share on our social media platforms to Eric Holt, [email protected]. Please note that due to a high volume of requests, not all requests can be accommodated. However, Dogwood will consider information that aligns with our strategic priorities, partner interests and social media scheduling.

Media Outreach

  • Please use our approved boilerplateĀ if you mention us.
  • If you would like to include any information about Dogwood, please use the language in our approved boilerplate.Ā 
  • If you wish to include more background about Dogwood than what is in our boilerplate, please contact Eric Holt or [email protected].
  • Feel free to adapt this press release template.
  • Please do not use the Dogwood Health Trust logo on any press releases unless we have agreed to issue a joint release.

Social Media

Images

  • If you include a photo with a news release, ensure you have a model release on file.
  • If you would, please share any model-released photos with us so we can promote your work as well.

Presentations

  • If you are making a presentation about your work and would like talking points about Dogwood Health Trust, please contact Eric Holt, [email protected]

Dogwood Health Trust Branding Guidelines

  • Please refer to us as ā€œDogwood Health Trustā€ in your materials.
  • You may use our logo on your website and/or in your reports. However, please do not use the Dogwood Health Trust logo on any press releases unless we have agreed to issue a joint release.
  • Logo Use
    • Please do not use the Dogwood logo on vehicle wraps, permanent signage and/or any materials that are used for advocacy or political campaigns.
    • Please do not alter the appearance of the logo in any way.Ā 
    • Acceptable uses for the Dogwood logo include your website (footer, donor lists, etc.) and in annual reports or other reports.
  • In the unlikely event that a Dogwood-funded project becomes tied to any controversy, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible. If the controversy rises to the level of news media coverage, we ask that you contact us immediately.
    • A two-week advance review of news media-targeted materials is also requested for funded projects that are connected to controversy.

dogwood health trust boilerplate

Dogwood Health Trust isĀ a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing. With a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity and health and wellness, Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visitĀ www.dht.org.

sample press release template

This press release template, which focuses on a housing-related grant and is only meant to serve as an example, demonstrates how to structure a press release to highlight your organizationā€™s program(s) along with Dogwood Health Trustā€™s investment.Ā 

PRESS RELEASE: Month XX, 2021Ā 

Media Contact:Ā 

ABC Organization Expands Affordable Housing Options in Western North Carolina with XYZ Project

CITY, N.C. ā€“Ā  Your opening paragraph will contain your organizationā€™s name, the purpose of the press release (i.e., what you are announcing) and a ā€œhookā€ (i.e., a problem you seek to solve). Also in the opening paragraph, itā€™s a good idea to link to your website and to Dogwoodā€™s website.

Example:

Affordable housing is in short supply in Western North Carolina. In fact, more than xx% of residents are cost burdened, meaning they are paying more than 30% of their household income for housing. ABC Organization is pleased to announce that thanks to support from Dogwood Health Trust, our region has received a tremendous boost.Ā 

A quote from the organizationā€™s leader is a good 2nd paragraph to personalize the press release and introduce the main contact for the organization or project.

Example:

ā€œDogwood Health Trustā€™s grant will increase our capacity to serve an additional 500 individuals, which is an increase of more than 25%,ā€ said Executive Director of ABC Organization. ā€œWe are grateful for Dogwoodā€™s commitment to help us address the disadvantages created by a lack of affordable housing in Western North Carolina.ā€

The 3rd and 4th paragraphs need to provide background about your organization, outline the specifics of the program you are announcing, and explain the problem(s) you are addressing.Ā  As a suggestion, itā€™s good to include statistics and concrete data as well as aspirational ideas to tell your story.

Examples:

  • The history of your organization.Ā 
  • Your service area and the individuals you serve.
  • The needs in your service area, which are best told with statistics.
  • The issue area(s) that your organization is tackling.
  • The specific benefits that will come from this program.
  • The difference this funding will make.Ā 

The paragraph after your program detail is a great place for a quote from Dogwood Health Trust so we can publicly support the great work you are doing. While there is no pressure or requirement to do so, if you would like to include a quote from Dogwood, please contact Eric Holt at [email protected].Ā 

In the last paragraph, you may want to include an impactful quote depending on the nature of the press release.

Example:

ā€œHaving this infusion of resources from Dogwood Health Trust means that xx units will be developed much more quickly and efficiently than we ever could have done alone,ā€ said Executive Director.Ā 

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At the very end of your release, add your boilerplate (general, evergreen information about your organization. If you quote Dogwood Health Trust, please add our boilerplate below.

About [YOUR ORGANIZATION]

Insert your organizational boilerplate.

About Dogwood Health TrustĀ 

Dogwood Health Trust isĀ a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing. With a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity and health and wellness, Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visitĀ www.dht.org.

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